Highton Development(SH:603162) Huachuang Securities·2025-07-26 11:25Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Buy" rating to the company with a target price of 10.7 CNY [1][11]. Core Views - Haitong Development is positioned as a leading private dry bulk shipping company in China, capitalizing on market recovery opportunities. The company has demonstrated strong operational capabilities and cost management, maintaining rapid growth in shipping capacity over recent years, which is expected to release higher profit elasticity as the dry bulk market gradually recovers [8][11]. Summary by Sections Company Overview - Haitong Development, established in 2009, is a leading private dry bulk shipping company in China, ranking 7th among major shipping enterprises in terms of fleet size as of the end of 2024. The company has expanded its fleet from focusing on ultra-large bulk carriers to include various ship types, with a current fleet composition of 69% ultra-large, 10% Panamax, and 22% Capesize vessels [7][9][15]. Market Supply and Demand - The dry bulk market is transitioning from a recession to a recovery phase, with the BDI average for the first half of 2025 at 1290 points, down 41% from the historical average since 2000. Supply growth is expected to remain limited, with the order book for bulk carriers at a historical low of 10.4%. Demand factors include potential increases from the West Simandou project and interest rate cuts [7][53][55]. Company Highlights - The company has achieved a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% in total shipping capacity from 2019 to 2024. The operational flexibility and cost advantages, along with a well-experienced management team, have allowed the company to effectively manage its fleet and optimize routes, achieving daily TCE rates significantly above market benchmarks [10][11][22]. Financial Projections - The company is projected to achieve net profits of 3.3 billion CNY, 6.0 billion CNY, and 7.5 billion CNY for the years 2025 to 2027, with corresponding EPS of 0.35 CNY, 0.65 CNY, and 0.81 CNY. The report suggests a target market capitalization of approximately 102 billion CNY, indicating a potential growth of 26% from current levels [3][11][35].